Magnanimously homeschooling, worshiping, creating.......

Join us on a journey of faith, healing, learning to live with part of our hearts missing, and recovery, as our family rebuilds our lives, after our son's long battle with cancer....and his eventual rise on eagle's wings into Heaven...victory is his...he is serving the King!!!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

hot dog smores night


Getting the fire ready!


The kids and leaders going on a hike with a spiritual lesson.


Roasting marshmellies..


Friends all around.

Goofin' around!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

flute for T

If you happen to know someone who has a student flute that they are currently not using, we
would be very interested. T is very interested in the flute and we are hoping to start Suzuki lessons with him. However, a flute to use as we first venture into it and see if it's for us would be most helpful. We will commit some time to it though in finding this out. Please feel free to offer any leads, helpful advice, etc...

Monday, September 28, 2009

music on the brain

My daughter just started Suzuki violin and I am loving it!! Here is some interesting news about music and a child's brain.
You can read the full article at here.

Laurel Trainor was there, playing her flute. A psychologist and neuroscientist, she's the director of the McMaster University Music and the Mind Institute.

The institute researches how music works in and on the mind.

"Why do young kids who play music develop better memory and attention focus?" asks Trainor.

The most compelling hypothesis, she says, is that music involves so much function -- both mental and physical, not to mention emotional.

The playing and learning of music requires a combination of memory, imitation, creativity, physical dexterity, mathematics and other aspects of cognition.

What's more, she adds, actively playing music is far more beneficial than passively listening to it.

We stand to learn a great deal more about the relationship between music and the mind in Hamilton as the McMaster University Music and the Mind Institute just received word that it has won a $6-million grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

"Most of that money will go to building a performance lab where we can measure the brain waves of multiple performers as they play music together," says Trainor. "We'll monitor both the players' and the audience's responses."

Sunday, September 27, 2009

backyard balloons


I didn't get my camera out soon enough, but they went right over our house and we waved at them and talked to them and they lit their fire for us!! It was really cool. The tree on the left is in our front yard.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

co-op art class


We have a lovely little informal co-op group filled with some lovely homeschooling ladies that encourage me every time I meet with them. We are doing an art study every other week for the year, thanks to a very sweet mom with three young boys and lots of energy!! (thanks Stephanie) With that, other mom's have stepped forward as they are able and offered other fun learning opportunities. It's even right nearby, which I love. This has really blessed me. I will keep updating our adventures here.
Above is a photo of the art gallery we visited to start off the year.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

violin dreams come true


After much patience and anticipation, damsel girl was finally able to start violin lessons! We were graciously blessed with the loan of a most beautiful violin for her to start with and a wonderful, nearby teacher who is very good at what she does. Someone is very excited!

Monday, September 21, 2009

senior year #1



It's true...I have a senior this year! This is so exciting! He has made it this far and he can read, write, calculate mathematical equations and I didn't 'mess' him up too much. :) I am loving this age since he is so self sufficient. He is a man now and nearly all grown up. I am thankful for all the help God has given me and his father.
This is a year of finishing classic reading lists, furthering math levels, starting community college coarses, while acquiring some more college credits. He has been blessed to apprentice in computers with a wonderful man that God sent in our path. This led to his now first official part time job. It
is essential that a part time job during high school be the right kind of job; one that fits that teen's needs, goals and social environment positively.
This will be my first home school graduate in May 2010. Meanwhile, we are trying to help him to prepare for college and his future prospects that God has for him, while saving money and avoiding huge debts as he starts out his adult life. If you would like to start thinking of these money saving ideas for college, please see the link on my sidebar.
Here is a great book to get you started called ACCELERATED DISTANCE LEARNING.

Have a great homeschooling year and enjoy that high school student!

Friday, September 18, 2009

it's official now....



Well, it's that time again isn't it? We have started our 'official' homeschooling adventures some weeks back. I wasn't nearly as excited this year. I had post medical crisis nerve sensitivity, which was making the prospects of homeschooling less desirable. It was as if all my nerves suddenly started popping out unsheathed upon my skin as an after-effect of this crazy cancer battle being waged. Usually I am so excited for new paper, new ideas and new schedules, but found the thought daunting as Sept. approached. We took it quite easy this summer, maybe too easy. Thankfully, I started a very slow version to start out and worked on the transition with the littles, slowly adding in a longer day. They have made much progress. There have been some ups and downs, but alas, that is the way it is when you have youngins' no matter where they are all day.
So, the books are out, the schedule printed and passed around and hung up, the pencils sharpened and prayers being prayed! We appreciate any of those you want to send up for us! We pray that you and your week is blessed as well.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

countdown to a cure

Do you see that slice? That's my brave little boy whacking that cancer out of his body everyday (with God's help of coarse)!! He is fighting hard even when you don't see it. Sometimes you see him so energetic you wouldn't even know how tired he gets sometimes. He amazes me continually with his trust in the Lord, his steadfastness, his upbeat attitude. What a kid.


Here he is having a more tired moment. These are the moments when your heart just longs to climb right inside his body with a magic cancer magnet and just yank out all those bad cells forever.

~~~~~~
Thanks for all your continual prayers. I am limiting my carepage updates to clinic visits or special events, but here I may update more daily stuff now.
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Today we had to go get blood drawn here in town. For those of you who don't know it, we are continually checking his blood and still trying to adjust his chemo drug levels. He his tiring of weekly draws. The lab folks know us all too well. Last week his levels finally went up nicely and so his chemo was increased. He is already feeling the increased tiredness from that but he is doing well. Today the levels were mostly unchanged so they agreed to let him wait 2 weeks for clinic day before needing labs. Yeah! At clinic, they will draw from his chest port so he will get 3 or 4 weeks worth of arm breaks!
Also, check out the new countdown gadget on my side bar at the top and help us countdown to a cure until next May!!

Monday, September 14, 2009

sunday baseball





Recently we went to a picnic and the kids played ball with some young agile folks and what a blessing that was. They had a blast. These photos are taken by a friend and showed some cool shots. Look at that girl's face up there!!

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Why MAGNANIMOUS?

Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary of the American Language defines Magnanimity as such:
MAGNANIM'ITY, n. [L. magnanimitas; magnus, great, and animus, mind.] Greatness of mind; that elevation or dignity of soul, which encounters danger and trouble with tranquillity and firmness, which raises the possessor above revenge, and makes him delight in acts of benevolence, which makes him disdain injustice and meanness, and prompts him to sacrifice personal ease, interest and safety for the accomplishment of useful and noble objects.